Hestersilencedhercuriosityfromthattime。Butherheartwasnotquiteatease，andshekeptonwonderingwhetherPhilipthoughthislittlecousinprettyuntilshesawherandhimtogether，onthatoccasionofwhichwehavespoken，whenSylviacametotheshoptobuyhernewcloak;andafterthatHesterneverwonderedwhetherPhilipthoughthiscousinprettyorno，forsheknewquitewell。BellRobsonhadherownanxietiesonthesubjectofherdaughter'sincreasingattractions。Sheapprehendedthedangersconsequentuponcertainfacts，byamentalprocessmoreakintointuitionthanreason。Shewasuncomfortable，evenwhilehermotherlyvanitywasflattered，attheadmirationSylviareceivedfromtheothersex。Thisadmirationwasmadeevidenttohermotherinmanyways。WhenSylviawaswithheratmarket，itmighthavebeenthoughtthatthedoctorshadprescribedadietofbutterandeggstoallthemenunderfortyinMonkshaven。AtfirstitseemedtoMrsRobsonbutanaturaltributetothesuperiormeritofherfarmproduce;butbydegreessheperceivedthatifSylviaremainedathome，shestoodnobetterchancethanherneighboursofanearlysale。Thereweremorecustomersthanformerlyforthefleecesstoredinthewool—loft;
　　comelyyoungbutcherscameafterthecalfalmostbeforeithadbeendecidedtosellit;inshort，excuseswereseldomwantingtothosewhowishedtoseethebeautyofHaytersbankFarm。AllthismadeBelluncomfortable，thoughshecouldhardlyhavetoldwhatshedreaded。Sylviaherselfseemedunspoiltbyitasfarasherhomerelationswereconcerned。Alittlethoughtlessshehadalwaysbeen，andthoughtlessshewasstill;but，ashermotherhadoftensaid，'Yo'cannaputoldheadsonyoungshoulders;'andifblamedforhercarelessnessbyherparents，Sylviawasalwaysaspenitentasshecouldbeforthetimebeing。Tobesure，itwasonlytoherfatherandmotherthatsheremainedthesameasshehadbeenwhenanawkwardlassieofthirteen。Outofthehousetherewerethemostcontradictoryopinionsofher，especiallyifthevoicesofwomenweretobelistenedto。Shewas'anill—favoured，overgrownthing;''justasbonnyasthefirstrosei'
　　June，andassweeti'hernatureast'honeysucklea—climbingroundit;'
　　shewas'avixen，withatonguesharpenoughtomakeyerveryheartbleed;'
　　shewas'justabito'sunshinewherivershewent;'shewassulky，lively，witty，silent，affectionate，orcold—hearted，accordingtothepersonwhospokeabouther。Infact，herpeculiarityseemedtobethis——thateveryonewhoknewhertalkedabouthereitherinpraiseorblame;inchurch，orinmarket，sheunconsciouslyattractedattention;theycouldnotforgetherpresence，astheycouldthatofothergirlsperhapsmorepersonallyattractive。Nowallthiswasacauseofanxietytohermother，whobegantofeelasifshewouldratherhavehadherchildpassedbyinsilencethansomuchnoticed。Bell'sopinionwas，thatitwascredit—abletoawomantogothroughlifeintheshadowofobscurity，——nevernamedexceptinconnexionwithgoodhousewifery，husband，orchildren。Toomuchtalkingaboutagirl，eveninthewayofpraise，disturbedMrsRobson'sopinionofher;andwhenherneighbourstoldherhowherowndaughterwasadmired，shewouldreplycoldly，'She'sjustwellenough，'andchangethesubjectofconversation。Butitwasquitedifferentwithherhusband。Tohislooser，less—restrainedmind，itwasagreeabletohearof，andstillmoretosee，theattentionwhichhisdaughter'sbeautyreceived。Hefeltitasreflectingconsequenceonhimself。Hehadnevertroubledhismindwithspeculationsastowhetherhehimselfwaspopular，stilllesswhetherhewasrespected。
　　Hewasprettywelcomewhereverhewent，asajovialgood—naturedman，whohaddoneadventurousandillegalthingsinhisyouth，whichinsomemeasureentitledhimtospeakouthisopinionsonlifeingeneralintheauthoritativemannerhegenerallyused;but，ofthetwo，hepreferredconsortingwithyoungermen，totakingasoberstandofrespectabilitywiththeeldersoftheplace;andheperceived，withoutreasoninguponit，thatthegaydaringspiritsweremoredesirousofhiscompanywhenSylviawasbyhissidethanatanyothertime。OneortwoofthesewouldsaunteruptoHaytersbankonaSundayafternoon，andloungeroundhisfieldswiththeoldfarmer。
　　Bellkeptherselffromthenapwhichhadbeenherweeklysolaceforyears，inordertolookafterSylvia，andonsuchoccasionsshealwaysturnedascoldashouldertothevisitorsashersenseofhospitalityandofdutytoherhusbandwouldpermit。Butiftheydidnotenterthehouse，oldRobsonwouldalwayshaveSylviawithhimwhenhewenttheroundofhisland。Bellcouldseethemfromtheupperwindowtheyoungmenstandingintheattitudesoflisteners，whileDaniellaiddownthelawonsomepoint，enforcinghiswordsbypantomimicactionswithhisthickstick;andSylvia，halfturningawayasiffromsometooadmiringgaze，waspossiblypickingflowersoutofthehedgebank。TheseSundayafternoonstrollsweretheplagueofBell'slifethatwholesummer。Thenittookasmuchofartificeaswasinthesimplewoman'snaturetokeepDanielfrominsistingonhavingSylvia'scompanyeverytimehewentdowntoMonkshaven。Andhere，again，cameaperplexity，theacknowledgementofwhichindistinctthoughtwouldhavebeenanactofdisloyalty，accordingtoBell'sconscience。IfSylviawentwithherfather，heneverdranktoexcess;andthatwasagoodgaintohealthatanyrate（drinkingwashardlyasinagainstmoralsinthosedays，andinthatplace）;so，occasionally，shewasallowedtoaccompanyhimtoMonkshavenasacheckuponhisfolly;forhewastoofondandproudofhisdaughtertodisgraceherbyanyopenexcess。ButoneSundayafternoonearlyinNovember，Philipcameupbeforethetimeatwhichheusuallypaidhisvisits。Helookedgraveandpale;andhisauntbegan，——
　　'Why，lad！what'sbeenado？Thou'rtlookingaspeakedandpinedasaMethodypreacherafteralove—feast，whenhe'stalkedhisselftoDeath'sdoor。Theedostna'getgoodmilkenow，that'swhatitis，——suchstuffasMonkshavenfolksputupwi'！'
　　'No，aunt;I'mquitewell。OnlyI'mabitputout——vexedlikeatwhatI'veheerdaboutSylvie。'
　　Hisaunt'sfacechangedimmediately。
　　'Andwhattenfolksayofher，nextthing？'
　　'Oh，'saidPhilip，struckbythedifferenceoflookandmannerinhisaunt，andsubduedbyseeinghowinstantlyshetookalarm。'Itwereonlymyuncle;——heshouldna'takeagirllikehertoapublic。Shewerewi'
　　himatt'"Admiral'sHead"upo'AllSouls'Day——thatwereall。Thereweremanyaonetherebeside，——itwerestatutefair;butsuchaoneasourSylvieoughtnottobecheapenedwi't'rest。'
　　'Andhetookherthere，didhe？'saidBell，inseveremeditation。'I
　　hadnevernoopiniono'th'wenchesas'llsettheirselvestobehiredforservantsi'th'fair;they'reabadlot，ascannotfindplacesfortheirselves——'boutgoingandstannin'tobestaredatbyfolk，andgrinnin'
　　wi'th'plough—ladswhennoone'slooking;it'sabadlook—outfort'missusastakesoneo'thesewenchesforaservant;anddosttameantosayasmySylviewentanddemeanedhersel'todanceandmarlockwi'a'th'fair—folkatth'"Admiral'sHead？"'
　　'No，no，shedidna'dance;shebarelysetfooti'th'room;butitwereherownprideassavedher;unclewouldniverha'keptherfromit，forhehadfalleninwi'Hayleyo'Seaburnandoneortwoothers，andtheywerehavingaglassi't'bar，andMrsLawson，t'landlady，knewhowtherewasthemwhowouldcomeanddanceamongparish'prenticesifneedwere，justtogetawordoralookwi'Sylvie！Soshetemptsherin，sayingthattheroomwereallsmartenedandfinewi'flags;andtherewasthemintheroomastoldmethattheyneverweresostartledaswhentheysawourSylvie'sfacepeepinginamongallt'flusteredmaidsandmen，roughandredwi'
　　weatheranddrink;andJemMacbean，hesaidshewerejustlikeabito'
　　apple—blossomamongpeonies;andsomeman，hedidn'tknowwho，wentupandspoketoher;an'eitheratthat，oratsomeo't'wordssheheard——forthey'dgotagoodwayonaforethattime——shewentquitewhiteandmad，asiffirewerecomingoutofhereyes，andthensheturnedredandlefttheroom，forallt'landladytriedtolaughitoffandkeepherin。
　　'I'llbedowntoMonkshavenbeforeI'madayolder，andtellMargaretLawsonsomeonmymindasshe'llnotforgetinahurry。'
　　Bellmovedasthoughshewouldputonhercloakandhoodthereandthen。
　　'Nay，it'snotinreasonasawomani'thatlineo'lifeshouldn'ttrytomakeherhouseagreeable，'saidPhilip。
　　'Notwi'mywench，'saidBell，inadeterminedvoice。
　　Philip'sinformationhadmadeadeeperimpressiononhisauntthanheintended。HehimselfhadbeenannoyedmoreattheideathatSylviawouldbespokenofashavingbeenataroughpieceofrusticgaiety——ayearlyfestivalforthelowerclassesofYorkshireservants，out—dooraswellasin—door——thanattheaffairitself，forhehadlearntfromhisinformanthowinstantaneousherappearancehadbeen。Hestoodwatchinghisaunt'stroubledface，andalmostwishingthathehadnotspoken。Atlastsheheavedadeepsigh，andstirringthefire，asifbythislittlehouseholdOccupationtocomposehermind，shesaid——
　　'It'sapityaswenchesaren'tlads，ormarriedfolk。Icouldha'wished——butitweretheLord'swill——Itwouldha'beensummuttolookto，ifshe'dhadabrother。Mymasterissofullonhisownthoughts，yo'see，he'snomindleftforthinkingonher，whatwi'th'oats，andth'wool，andth'youngcolt，andhisventurei'th'LuckyMary。'
　　Shereallybelievedherhusbandtohavetheseriousandimportantoccupationforhismindthatshehadbeentaughttoconsiderbefittingthesuperiorintellectofthemasculinegender;shewouldhavetaxedherselfseverely，if，eveninthought，shehadblamedhim，andPhiliprespectedherfeelingstoomuchtosaythatSylvia'sfatheroughttolookafterhermorecloselyifhemadesuchaprettycreaturesoconstantlyhiscompanion;yetsomesuchspeechwasonlyjustpentwithinPhilip'sclosedlips。Againhisauntspoke——
　　'Iusedtothinkassheandyo'mightfancyoneanother，butthou'rttooold—fashionedlikeforher;yewouldna'suit;andit'saswell，fornowIcansaytothee，thatIwouldtakeitverykindlyifthouwould'stlookafterherabit。'
　　Philip'scountenancefellintogloom。Hehadtogulpdowncertainfeelingsbeforehecouldmakeanswerwithdiscretion。
　　'HowcanIlookafterher，andmetiedtotheshopmoreandmoreeveryday？'
　　'IcouldsendheronabitofanerrandtoFoster's，andthen，forsure，yo'mightkeepaneyeuponherwhenshe'sinth'town;andjustwalkabitwaywithherwhenshe'sinth'street，andkeept'otherfellowsoffher——NedSimpson，t'butcher，in'special，forfolksdosayhemeansnogoodbyanygirlhegoeswi'——andI'llaskfathertoleaveherabitmorewi'me。They'recomingdownth'brow，andNedSimpsonwi'them。Now，Philip，Ilooktotheetodoabrother'spartbymywench，andwarnoffallasisn'tfit。'
　　Thedooropened，andthecoarsestrongvoiceofSimpsonmadeitselfheard。Hewasastoutman，comelyenoughastoformandfeature，butwithadepthofcolourinhisfacethatbetokenedthecomingonofthehabitsofthesot。HisSundayhatwasinhishand，andhesmoothedthelongnapofit，ashesaid，withamixtureofshynessandfamiliarity——
　　'Sarvant，missus。Yo'rmeasterisfainthatIshouldcomeinan'haveadrop;nooffence，Ihope？'
　　Sylviapassedquicklythroughthehouse—place，andwentupstairswithoutspeakingtohercousinPhiliportoanyone。Hesaton，dislikingthevisitor，andalmostdislikinghishospitableuncleforhavingbroughtSimpsonintothehouse，sympathizingwithhisauntinthespiritwhichpromptedhercurtanswers，andintheintervalsofallthesefeelingswonderingwhatgroundshehadforspeakingasifshehadnowgivenupallthoughtofSylviaandhimeverbeingmarried，andinwhatwayhewastoo'old—fashioned。'
　　RobsonwouldgladlyhavepersuadedPhiliptojoinhimandSimpsonintheirdrink，butPhilipwasinnosociablemood，andsatealittlealoof，watchingthestaircasedownwhichsoonerorlaterSylviamustcome，for，asperhapshasbeenalreadysaid，thestairswentupstraightoutofthekitchen。Andatlengthhisyearningwatchwasrewarded;first，thelittlepointedtoecamedaintilyinsight，thenthetrimankleinthetightbluestocking，thewoolofwhichwasspunandthewebofwhichwasknittedbyhermother'scarefulhands;thenthefullbrownstuffpetticoat，thearmholdingthepetticoatbackindecentfolds，soasnottoencumber'thedescendingfeet;theslenderneckandshouldershiddenunderthefoldedsquareoffreshwhitemuslin;thecrowningbeautyofthesoftinnocentfaceradiantincolour，andwiththelightbrowncurlsclusteringaround。
　　ShemadeherwayquicklytoPhilip'sside;howhisheartbeatatherapproach！
　　andevenmorewhensheenteredintoalow—voicedtete—a—tete。
　　'Isn'thegoneyet？'saidshe。'Icannotabidehim;Icouldha'pinchedfatherwhenheaskedhimfort'comein。'
　　'Maybe，he'llnotstaylong，'saidPhilip，hardlyunderstandingthemeaningofwhathesaid，sosweetwasittohavehermakingherwhisperedconfidencestohim。
　　ButSimpsonwasnotgoingtoletheraloneinthedarkcornerbetweenthedoorandthewindow。Hebeganpayinghersomecoarsecountrycompliments——toostrongintheirdirectflatteryforevenherfather'staste，moreespeciallyashesawbyhiswife'ssetlipsandfrowningbrowhowmuchshedisapprovedoftheirvisitor'sstyleofconversation。
　　'Come，measter，leavet'lassalone;she'ssetupenougha'ready，hermothermakessuchadealonher。Yo'an'me'smenforsensibletalkatourtimeo'life。An'，asIwassaying，t'horsewasaweaverifiveronewas，asanyonecouldha'toldashadcomewithinamileonhim。'
　　Andinthiswaytheoldfarmerandthebluffbutcherchattedonabouthorses，whilePhilipandSylviasatetogether，heturningoverallmannerofhopesandprojectsforthefuture，inspiteofhisaunt'sopinionthathewastoo'old—fashioned'forherdainty，bloomingdaughter。Perhaps，too，MrsRobsonsawsomereasonforchanginghermindonthisheadasshewatchedSylviathisnight，forsheaccompaniedPhiliptothedoor，whenthetimecameforhimtostarthomewards，andbadehim'good—night'withunusualfervour，adding——
　　'Thou'stbeenadealo'comforttome，lad——a'mostasoneasifthouwertachildo'myown，asattimesIcouldwellythinkthouarttobe。
　　Anyways，Itrusttotheetolookafterthelilelass，ashasnobrothertoguideheramongmen——andmen'sverykittleforawomantodealwi;butifthou'lthaveaneyeonwhomsheconsortswi'，mymind'llbeeasier。'
　　Philip'sheartbeatfast，buthisvoicewasascalmasusualwhenhereplied——
　　'I'djustkeepherabitalooffromMonkshavenfolks;alassisalwaysthemorethoughtonforbeingcharyofherself;andasfort'rest，I'llhaveaneyetothefolksshegoesamong，andifIseethattheydon'tbefither，I'lljustgiveherawarning，forshe'snotonetolikesuchchapsasyonSimpsonthere;shecanseewhat'sbecominginamantosaytoalass，andwhat'snot。'
　　Philipsetoutonhistwo—milewalkhomewithatumultofhappinessinhisheart。Hewasnotoftencarriedawaybydelusionsofhisowncreating;
　　to—nighthethoughthehadgoodgroundforbelievingthatbypatientself—restrainthemightwinSylvia'slove。Ayearagohehadnearlyearnedherdislikebyobtrudinguponherlooksandwordsbetokeninghispassionatelove。Healarmedhergirlishcoyness，aswellasweariedherwiththewishhehadthenfeltthatsheshouldtakeaninterestinhispursuits。But，withunusualwisdom，hehadperceivedhismistake;itwasmanymonthsnowsincehehadbetrayed，bywordorlook，thatshewasanythingmoretohimthanalittlecousintobecaredforandprotectedwhenneedwas。Theconsequencewasthatshehadbecometamed，justasawildanimalistamed;hehadremainedtranquilandimpassive，almostasifhedidnotperceivehershyadvancestowardsfriendliness。Theseadvancesweremadebyherafterthelessonshadceased。Shewasafraidlesthewasdispleasedwithherbehaviourinrejectinghisinstructions，andwasnoteasytillshewasatpeacewithhim;andnow，toallappearance，heandshewereperfectfriends，butnothingmore。Inhisabsenceshewouldnotallowheryoungcompanionstolaughathisgravesobrietyofcharacter，andsomewhatprimdemeanour;shewouldevengoagainstherconscience，anddenythatsheperceivedanypeculiarity。
　　Whenshewantedit，shesoughthisadviceonsuchsmallsubjectsascameupinherdailylife;andshetriednottoshowsignsofwearinesswhenheusedmorewords——andmoredifficultwords——thanwerenecessarytoconveyhisideas。ButheridealhusbandwasdifferentfromPhilipineverypoint，thetwoimagesneverforaninstantmergedintoone。ToPhilipshewastheonlywomanintheworld;itwastheonesubjectonwhichhedarednotconsider，forfearthatbothconscienceandjudgmentshoulddecideagainsthim，andthatheshouldbeconvincedagainsthiswillthatshewasanunfitmateforhim，thatsheneverwouldbehis，andthatitwaswasteoftimeandlifetokeephershrinedinthedearestsanctuaryofhisbeing，totheexclusionofalltheseriousandreligiousaimswhich，inanyothercase，hewouldhavebeenthefirsttoacknowledgeastheobjectheoughttopursue。ForhehadbeenbroughtupamongtheQuakers，andsharedintheirausteredistrustofaself—seekingspirit;yetwhatelsebutself—seekingwashispassionateprayer，'GivemeSylvia，orelse，Idie？'Noothervisionhadevercrossedhismasculinefancyforamoment;hiswasarareandconstantlovethatdeservedabetterfatethanitmetwith。Atthistimehishopeswerehigh，asIhavesaid，notmerelyastothegrowthofSylvia'sfeelingstowardshim，butastotheprobabilityofhissoonbeinginapositiontoplaceherinsuchcomfort，ashiswife，asshehadneverenjoyedbefore。
　　ForthebrothersFosterwerethinkingofretiringfrombusiness，andrelinquishingtheshoptotheirtwoshopmen，PhilipHepburnandWilliamCoulson。Tobesure，itwasonlybylookingbackforafewmonths，andnoticingchanceexpressionsandsmallindications，thatthisintentionoftheirscouldbediscovered。Buteverysteptheytooktendedthisway，andPhilipknewtheirusualpracticeofdeliberationtoowelltofeelintheleastimpatientforthequickerprogressoftheendwhichhesawsteadilyapproaching。ThewholeatmosphereoflifeamongtheFriendsatthisdatepartookofthischaracterofself—repression，andbothCoulsonandHepburnsharedinit。CoulsonwasjustasmuchawareoftheprospectopeningbeforehimasHepburn;buttheyneverspoketogetheronthesubject，althoughtheirmutualknowledgemightbeoccasionallyimpliedintheirconversationontheirfuturelives。MeanwhiletheFosterswereimpartingmoreofthebackgroundoftheirbusinesstotheirsuccessors。Forthepresent，atleast，thebrothersmeanttoretainaninterestintheshop，evenaftertheyhadgivenuptheactivemanagement;andtheysometimesthoughtofsettingupaseparateestablishmentasbankers。Theseparationofthebusiness，——theintroductionoftheirshopmentothedistantmanufacturerswhofurnishedtheirgoods（inthosedaysthesystemof'travellers'wasnotsowidelyorganizedasitisatpresent），——allthesestepswereingradualprogress;
　　andalreadyPhilipsawhimselfinimaginationinthedignifiedpositionofjointmasteroftheprincipalshopinMonkshaven，withSylviainstalledashiswife，withcertainlyasilkgown，andpossiblyagigatherdisposal。
　　InallPhilip'svisionsoffutureprosperity，itwasSylviawhowastobeaggrandizedbythem;hisownlifewastobespentasitwasnow，prettymuchbetweenthefourshopwalls。
　　chapter12CHAPTERXIINEWYEAR'SFETEAllthisenlargementofinterestintheshopoccupiedPhilipfullyforsomemonthsaftertheperiodreferredtointheprecedingchapter。Rememberinghislastconversationwithhisaunt，hemighthavebeenuneasyathisinabilitytoperformhispromiseandlookafterhisprettycousin，butthataboutthemiddleofNovemberBellRobsonhadfallenillofarheumaticfever，andthatherdaughterhadbeenentirelyabsorbedinnursingher。NothoughtofcompanyorgaietywasinSylvia'smindaslongashermother'sillnesslasted;vehementinallherfeelings，shediscoveredinthedreadoflosinghermotherhowpassionatelyshewasattachedtoher。Hithertoshehadsupposed，aschildrensooftendo，thatherparentswouldliveforever;andnowwhenitwasaquestionofdays，whetherbythattimethefollowingweekhermothermightnotbeburiedoutofhersightforever，sheclungtoeverysemblanceofservicetoberendered，oraffectionshown，asifshehopedtocondensetheloveandcareofyearsintothefewdaysonlythatmightremain。MrsRobsonlingeredon，beganslowlytorecover，andbeforeChristmaswasagainsittingbythefiresideinthehouse—place，wanandpulleddown，muffledupwithshawlsandblankets，butstillthereoncemore，wherenotlongbeforeSylviahadscarcelyexpectedtoseeheragain。
　　PhilipcameupthateveningandfoundSylviainwildspirits。Shethoughtthateverythingwasdone，nowthathermotherhadoncecomedownstairsagain;shelaughedwithglee;shekissedhermother;sheshookhandswithPhilip，shealmostsubmittedtoaspeechofmorethanusualtendernessfromhim;but，inthemidstofhiswords，hermother'spillowswantedarrangingandshewenttoherchair，payingnomoreheedtohiswordsthaniftheyhadbeenaddressedtothecat，thatlyingontheinvalid'skneewaspurringoutherwelcometotheweakhandfeeblystrokingherback。Robsonhimselfsooncamein，lookingolderandmoresubduedsincePhiliphadseenhimlast。Hewasveryurgentthathiswifeshouldhavesomespiritsandwater;
　　butonherrefusal，almostasifsheloathedthethoughtofthesmell，hecontentedhimselfwithsharinghertea，thoughhekeptabusingthebeverageas'washingtheheartoutofaman，'andattributingallthedegeneracyoftheworld，growingupabouthiminhisoldage，tothedrinkingofsuchslop。Atthesametime，hislittleself—sacrificeputhiminanunusuallygoodtemper;and，mingledwithhisrealgladnessathavinghiswifeoncemoreonthewaytorecovery，broughtbacksomeoftheoldcharmoftendernesscombinedwithlight—heartedness，whichhadwonthesoberIsabellaPrestonlongago。Hesatbyherside，holdingherhand，andtalkingofoldtimestotheyoungcoupleopposite;ofhisadventuresandescapes，andhowhehadwonhiswife。She，faintlysmilingattheremembranceofthosedays，yethalf—ashamedathavingthelittledetailsofhercourtshiprevealed，fromtimetotimekeptsaying，——
　　'Forshamewi'thee，Dannel——Ineverdid，'andfaintdenialsofasimilarkind。
　　'Niverbelieveher，Sylvie。Shewereawoman，andthere'sniverawomanbutlikestohaveasweetheart，andcantellwhenachap'scastin'sheep's—eyesather;ay，an'aforeheknowswhathe'sabouthissen。Shewereaprettyonethen，wasmyold'ooman，an'likedthemasthoughtherso，thoughshedidcockherheadhigh，asbein'aPreston，whichwereafamilyo'standin'
　　andmeans1thosepartsaforetime。There'sPhilipthere，I'llwarrant，isasproudo'bein'Prestonbyt'mother'sside，foritrunsi't'blood，lass。AcantellwhenachildofaPrestontak'stobeingproudo'theirkin，byt'cuto'theirnose。NowPhilip'sandmymissushasaturnbeyondcommoni'theirnostrils，asiftheywassniffin'att'restofusworld，an'seein'ifwewasgoodenoughfor'emtoconsortwi'。Theean'me，lass，isRobsons——oat—cakefolk，whilethey'spie—crust。LordhowBellusedtospeaktome，asshortasthoughawasn'taChristian，an'a't'timeshelovedmeasherverylife，an'wellaknewit，tho'a'dtomak'astho'
　　adidn't。Philip，whenthougoescourtin'，comet'me，anda'llgivetheemanyawrinkle。A'veshown'too，asaknowwellhowt'chooseagoodwifebytokensan'signs，hannota，missus？Comet'me，mylad，andshowmet'lass，an'a'lljusttak'asquintather，an'tellyo'ifshe'lldoornot;an'ifshe'lldo，a'llteachyo'howtowinher。'
　　'Theysayanothero'yonCorneygirlsisgoingtobemarried，'saidMrsRobson，inherfaintdeliberatetones。
　　'Bygoshan'it'swellthou'stspokeon'em;awasascleanforgettin'
　　itasivercouldbe。AmetNannyCorneyi'Monkshavenlastneet，andsheaxedmefort'letourSylviacomeo'NewYear'sEve，an'seeMollyan'
　　herman，that'nasiswedbeyondNewcassel，they'llbeoveratherfeyther's，fort'NewYear，an'there'stobeamerry—making。'
　　Sylvia'scolourcame，hereyesbrightened，shewouldhavelikedtogo;
　　butthethoughtofhermothercameacrossher，andherfeaturesfell。Hermother'seyecaughtthelookandthechange，andknewwhatbothmeantaswellasifSylviahadspokenout。
　　'Thursdayse'nnight，'saidshe。'I'llberareandstrongbythen，andSylvieshallgoplayhersen;she'sbeennurse—tendinglongenough。'
　　'You'rebutweaklyyet，'saidPhilipshortly;hedidnotintendtosayit，butthewordsseemedtocomeoutinspiteofhimself。
　　'Asaidasourlassshouldcome，Godwillin'，ifsheonlycameandwent，an'theegoin'onsprightly，old'ooman。An'a'llturnnurse—tendermysenfort'occasion，'specialifthoucanstandt'goodhonestsmello'whiskybythen。So，mylass，getupthysmartclothes，andcutt'beston'emout，asbecomesaPreston。Maybe，a'llfetchtheehome，an'maybePhilipwillconvoythee，forNannyCorneybadetheetot'merry—making，aswell。
　　Shesaidhermeasterwouldbeseem'theeaboutt'woolaforethen。'
　　'Idon'tthinkasIcango，'saidPhilip，secretlypleasedtoknowthathehadtheopportunityinhispower;'I'mhalfboundtogoWi'HesterRoseandhermothertot'watch—night。'
　　'IsHesteraMethodee？'askedSylviainsurprise。
　　'No！she'sneitheraMethodee，noraFriend，noraChurchperson;butshe'saturnforseriousthings，choosewhereverthey'refound。'
　　'Well，then，'saidgood—naturedfarmerRobson，onlyseeingthesurfaceofthings，'a'llmakeshifttofetchSylviebackfra't'merry—making，andtheean'thyyoungwomancangotot'prayer—makin';it'severymantohistaste，sayI。'
　　Butinspiteofhishalf—promise，nayagainsthisnaturalinclination，PhilipwasluredtotheCorneys'bythethoughtofmeetingSylvia，ofwatchingherandexultinginhersuperiorityinprettylooksandwaystoalltheothergirlslikelytobeassembled。Besides（hetoldhisconscience）hewaspledgedtohisaunttowatchoverSylvialikeabrother。SointheintervalbeforeNewYear'sEve，hesilentlyrevelledasmuchasanyyounggirlintheanticipationofthehappycomingtime。
　　Atthishour，alltheactorsinthisstoryhavingplayedouttheirpartsandgonetotheirrest，thereissomethingtouchinginrecordingthefutileeffortsmadebyPhiliptowinfromSylviatheloveheyearnedfor。But，atthetime，anyonewhohadwatchedhimmighthavebeenamusedtoseethegrave，awkward，plainyoungmanstudyingpatternsandcoloursforanewwaistcoat，withhisheadalittleononeside，afterthemeditativemannercommontothosewhoarechoosinganewarticleofdress。Theymighthavesmiledcouldtheyhavereadinhisimaginationthefrequentrehearsalsofthecomingevening，whenheandsheshouldeachbedressedintheirgalaattire，tospendafewhoursunderabright，festiveaspect，amongpeoplewhosecompanywouldobligethemtoassumeanewdemeanourtowardseachother，notsofamiliarastheireverydaymanner，butallowingmorescopefortheexpressionofrusticgallantry。Philiphadsoseldombeentoanythingofthekind，that，evenhadSylvianotbeengoing，hewouldhavefeltakindofshyexcitementattheprospectofanythingsounusual。
　　But，indeed，ifSylviahadnotbeengoing，itisveryprobablethatPhilip'srigidconsciencemighthavebeenarousedtothequestionwhethersuchpartiesdidnotsavourtoomuchoftheworldforhimtoformoneinthem。
　　Asitwas，however，thefactstohimweresimplythese。Hewasgoingandshewasgoing。Thedaybefore，hehadhurriedofftoHaytersbankFarmwithasmallpaperparcelinhispocket——aribbonwithalittlebriar—rosepatternrunninguponitforSylvia。Itwasthefirstthinghehadeverventuredtogiveher——thefirstthingofthekindwould，perhaps，bemoreaccurate;forwhenhehadfirstbeguntoteachheranylessons，hehadgivenherMavor'sSpelling—book，butthathemighthavedone，outofzealforknowledge，toanydunceofalittlegirlofhisacquaintance。Thisribbonwasquiteadifferentkindofpresent;hetouchedittenderly，asifhewerecaressingit，whenhethoughtofherwearingit;thebriar—rose（sweetnessandthorns）seemedtobetheveryflowerforher;thesoft，greengroundonwhichthepinkandbrownpatternran，wasjustthecolourtoshowoffhercomplexion。Andshewouldinawaybelongtohimhercousin，hermentor，herchaperon'herlover！Whileothersonlyadmired，hemighthopetoappropriate;foroflatetheyhadbeensuchhappyfriends！Hermotherapprovedofhim，herfatherlikedhim。Afewmonths，perhapsonlyafewweeksmoreofself—restraint，andthenhemightgoandspeakopenlyofhiswishes，andwhathehadtooffer。Forhehadresolved，withthequietforceofhischaracter，towaituntilallwasfinallysettledbetweenhimandhismasters，beforehedeclaredhimselftoeitherSylviaorherparents。Theintervalwasspentinpatient，silentendeavourstorecommendhimselftoher。
　　HehadtogivehisribbontohisauntinchargeforSylvia，andthatwasadisappointmenttohisfancy，althoughhetriedtoreasonhimselfintothinkingthatitwasbetterso。Hehadnottimetowaitforherreturnfromsomeerrandonwhichshehadgone，forhewasdailymoreandmoreoccupiedwiththeaffairsoftheshop。
　　Sylviamademanyapromisetohermother，andmoretoherself，thatshewouldnotstaylateattheparty，butshemightgoasearlyassheliked;andbeforetheDecemberdaylighthadfadedaway，SylviapresentedherselfattheCorneys'。Shewastocomeearlyinordertohelptosetoutthesupper，whichwasarrangedinthelargeoldflaggedparlour，whichservedasbestbed—roomaswell。Itopenedoutofthehouse—place，andwasthesacredroomofthehouse，aschambersofasimilardescriptionarestillconsideredinretiredfarmhousesinthenorthofEngland。Theyareusedonoccasionsliketheonenowdescribedforpurposesofhospitality;